The Duke and the Redhead at The Hi-Pointe Saturday Morning - THE QUIET MAN

THE QUIET MAN (1952) is one of Hollywood’s most beloved movies and you’ll have a chance to see it on the big screen at St. Louis’ fabulous Hi-Pointe Theater next weekend as part of their Classic Film Series. It’s Saturday, March 14th at 10:30am at the Hi-Pointe located at 1005 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63117. Admission is only $5.

John Ford’s flamboyant tribute to Irish-Americans, THE QUIET MAN may be full of all-too-familiar Irish stereotypes, ranging from a fondness for spirits to the love of a good fight, but it’s delivered with great skill and broad humor and at its heart is a good-natured, old-fashioned romance. The action takes place in Sea Verge (Ireland), around 1933 and tells the story of “Sean Thornton” (John Wayne), “a quiet peace loving man come home from America”, He’s a boxer who’s returned to his native Ireland to recover his farm and escape his past. and finds trouble in the form of the hulking Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen). Things go from bad to worse, when Wayne falls in love with Danaher’s feisty sister (Maureen O’Hara), which causes the bullheaded lout to try and pick a fight with Wayne. THE QUIET MAN was a triumph for Ford (who won the 1953 Best Director Oscar for this) and the actors involved. Perhaps the best thing about the film is the wonderful cast of supporting characters–one of the best in Hollywood history. You have Barry Fitzgerald, Arthur Shields (Fiztgerald’s real-life brother), Midred Natwick, Ward Bond and many others to provide color and a touch of the Old Country. The moments in here, like in most Ford films, are beautifully filmed giving this an epic feel. The best acting comes from McLaglen’s portrayal of a man that is a bit thick-headed, but who still remains lovable. Stay for the climax. It’s a real dandy!